Guzmania hybrid named &#39;METEOR&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania  hybrid named ‘METEOR’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 42 cm to 48 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage, measuring about 32 cm to 38 cm in length and about 3.4 cm to 4.6 cm in width; superior floral bract production; bracts have a unique, compound red inflorescence (closest to RHS 46A) which distinguishes this cultivar from typical  Guzmania;  compound inflorescence, measuring about 7 cm in height and about 15 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new, distinct and stable hybrid ofGuzmania hybrid, hereinafter referred to as ‘METEOR’. The presentinvention relates to seeds which are the Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’, aswell as, plants and plant parts produced by these seeds which have allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of the Guzmaniahybrid ‘METEOR’. The present invention also relates to methods forproducing these seeds and plants of the Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’.Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of producingprogeny Guzmania plants by crossing Guzmania ‘METEOR’, as either thefemale or seed or male or pollen parent, with another Guzmania plant andselecting progeny.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new, distinct and stable hybrid ofGuzmania hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination‘METEOR’. The new Guzmania ‘METEOR’ originated from a cross made in acontrolled breeding program by the inventors in 1997, and then firstflowered in 2001, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The female or seedparent is the Guzmania blassii inbred line identified by code 97796126(unpatented). The male or pollen parent is the Guzmania lingulata inbredline identified by code 97796143 (unpatented).

Guzmania is a member of the Bromeliaceae family. Guzmania ispredominantly epiphytic with a few terrestrial species and is native tothe tropics. For the most part, species vary in diameter from 7 or 8inches to 3 or 4 feet and have rosettes of glossy, smooth-edged leaves.

Floral bracts of Guzmania frequently have brilliant colors and may lastfor many months. The range of colors for Guzmania is generally fromyellow through orange but may also include flame red and red-purple.White or yellow, tubular, three-petalled flowers may also appear on astem or within the leaf rosette but are usually short-lived.

Guzmania may be advantageously grown as pot plants for greenhouse orhome use. Typically, the plants are shaded from direct sunlight. Duringthe spring to autumn period, the central vase-like part of the leafrosette is normally filled with water.

Guzmania is native to tropical America. Leaves of Guzmania are usuallyformed as basal rosettes which are stiff and entire and in severalvertical ranks. Guzmania plants have terminal spikes or panicles whichare often bracted with petals united in a tube about as long as thecalyx. The ovary is superior and the seeds plumose.

Asexual propagation of Guzmania is frequently performed by vegetativemeans through the use of tissue culture practices. Propagation ofGuzmania can also be from offshoots which can be detached from themother plant and grown in an appropriate soil or bark mixture.

Methods for cultivation and crossing of Guzmania are well known. For adetailed discussion, reference is made to the following publications,which are incorporated herein by reference: Benzing, David H., THEBIOLOGY OF THE BROMELIADS, Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka (1980); Zimmer,Karl, BROMELIEN, Verlag, Paul Parey, Berlin (1986); and Rauh, Werner,BROMELIEN, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (1981).

A Guzmania inbred is produced by brother/sister crossing over severalgenerations to produce a genetically homozygous plant selection. Ahybrid cultivar is produced by crossing two genetically distinct inbredlines, collecting seeds produced by the cross, and germinating seedsso-produced to make hybrid plants. The hybrid seeds and plants producedby this method are uniform with respect their morphological andphysiological characteristics.

A need exists for a greater variety of Guzmania cultivars withattractive ornamental features. Additionally, a need exists foradditional Guzmania hybrid cultivars that can be easily propagated byseed. The new Guzmania ‘METEOR’ was developed through a controlledbreeding program and exhibits unique, desirable and stablecharacteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides Guzmania plant selections that are solid,medium-sized, long-lasting hybrids with superior bract production andred inflorescence that exhibits good keeping quality. The presentinvention also provides Guzmania plant selections with a compoundinflorescence with a unique red color which distinguishes the newcultivar from typical Guzmania.

These and other objectives have been achieved in accordance with thepresent invention which provides ‘METEOR’ as a new Guzmania cultivarthat is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theinventors, Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, TheNetherlands, in 1997. The female or seed parent is the Guzmania blassiiinbred line identified by code 97796126 (unpatented). The male or pollenparent is the Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 97796143(unpatented).

Both parental cultivars have a sufficient degree of homozygosity suchthat the progeny of the cross are genetypically and phenotypicallyuniform. The new hybrid ‘METEOR’ therefore can be produced by sexualreproduction by crossing the parental inbred lines identified by thecodes 97796126 and 97796143 to produce a population of progeny plants,each of which has the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new hybrid ‘METEOR’.

Seeds which are the hybrid ‘METEOR’ are produced by crossing theparental inbred lines identified by the codes 97796126 and 97796143, andare deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 10801University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. 2500 seeds weredeposited with the ATCC on Dec. 2, 2008 and accorded ATCC Patent DepositDesignation No. PTA-9646.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to seeds which produce Guzmania hybrid‘METEOR’. The present invention also relates to Guzmania plants, andparts thereof, having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’. The present inventionrelates to a plant produced from seeds which are Guzmania hybrid‘METEOR’. The present invention also relates to plant parts, such aspollen, seeds or inflorescence produced by Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’.

The present invention relates to a method of producing seed which areGuzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’, by crossing Guzmania blassii inbred lineidentified by code 97796126 (unpatented) as the female or seed parentwith Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 97796143(unpatented) as the male or pollen parent, and the reciprocate crosswith 97796143 as the female parent and 97796126 as the male parent, andharvesting seeds produced from said crosses.

The present invention also relates to a method of producing plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of theGuzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’ comprising the steps of (a) crossing Guzmaniablassii inbred line identified by code 97796126 (unpatented) as thefemale or seed parent with Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified bycode 97796143 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent; (b) harvestingseeds produced from said cross; and (c) producing plants from saidharvested seeds.

The present invention also relates to producing progeny plants from thecross of Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’, as the female or male parent, withanother Guzmania plant, and selecting progeny plants from this cross.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fees.

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of‘METEOR’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of the primary and top bractsproduced by a typical potted, flowering plant of ‘METEOR’, at 13 monthsof age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up top view perspective of the inflorescence andtop bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of ‘METEOR’, at13 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The present invention was created by the inventors, Elly Bak andNicolaas D. M. Steur in 1997, and flowered for the first time in 2001 inAssendelft, The Netherlands.

This invention is directed to Guzmania plant having all themorphological and physiological characteristics of the hybrid ‘METEOR’produced from seeds which are the product of the cross of the Guzmaniablassii inbred line identified by code 97796126 (unpatented) as thefemale or seed parent with the Guzmania lingulata inbred line identifiedby code 97796143 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. Both parentshave a sufficient degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of thecross were, and continue to be, phenotypically uniform. The new hybrid‘METEOR’ can therefore be produced by sexual reproduction by crossing ofthe inbred selections identified by the codes 97796126 and 97796143 toproduce a population of progeny plants, each of which has thecombination of characteristics herein disclosed for the new hybrid‘METEOR’.

The new hybrid ‘METEOR’ can also be produced by asexually reproducingprogeny from the cross of the parental inbred lines identified by thecodes 97796126 and 97796143. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar byvegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2002, in Assendelft,The Netherlands. The first ‘METEOR’ plants propagated through the use ofsuch cuttings flowered in 2003, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, and havedemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type and that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘METEOR’ which in combination distinguishthis Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Solid growth habit;    -   2. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 42 cm to 48 cm in        height (above the pot when flowering);    -   3. Numerous, green color foliage, measuring about 32 cm to 38 cm        in length and about 3.4 cm to 4.6 cm in width;    -   4. Superior floral bract production;    -   5. Bracts have a unique, compound red inflorescence which        distinguishes this cultivar from typical Guzmania;    -   6. Compound inflorescence, measuring about 7 cm in height and        about 15 cm in diameter; and    -   7. Long-lasting habit.

Plants of the parental lines, 97796126 and 97796143 (both unpatented)are no longer available to provide a detailed botanical comparison withthe new Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to the new Guzmania hybrid ‘METEOR’ is theGuzmania cultivar ‘CLARET’ (unpatented). Plants of the new hybrid‘METEOR’ differ from plants of ‘CLARET’ primarily in inflorescencecolor. Plants of ‘METEOR’ produce inflorescence which are red (closestto RHS 46A) whereas plants of ‘CLARET’ produce inflorescence which arered (closest to RHS 53B).

‘METEOR’ has not been tested and observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,frequency of fertilization, composition of fertilizer, floweringtreatment, day length and humidity, without any change in the genotypeof the plant.

For example, substantial differences in plant height and diameter,number of leaves, can result depending on the size of the plant at thetime that flowering is induced. Since treatment to induce floweringdisrupts normal watering and fertilization regimens, treatment ofrelatively smaller plants adversely affects the growth of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Guzmania ‘METEOR’as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Plants of ‘METEOR’ were grown in a greenhouse with daytemperatures ranging from 20° C. to 28° C. and night temperaturesranging from 18° C. to 23° C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodictreatments were conducted, but plants of ‘METEOR’ are forced intoflowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of‘METEOR’: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1parts magnesium.

Color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsin a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of‘METEOR’ described is about 13 weeks after flowering treatment.

Classification:

-   Botanical: Guzmania sp.

Parentage:

-   Female Parent: Guzmania blassii inbred line identified by code    97796126 (unpatented)-   Male Parent: Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code    97796143 (unpatented)

Plant:

-   -   General Appearance and Form:        -   Height: About 42 cm to 48 cm (when flowering)        -   Width: About 60 cm        -   Shape: Funnel form rosette    -   Growth habit: Stemless    -   Plant Vigor: Good    -   Flowering Season: A fully grown plant can flower year round,        starting 13 to 14 weeks after induction of natural light or        trough flowering treatment.    -   Cold Tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may        damage plants.    -   Fragrance: None

Foliage:

-   -   Quantity: About 25 (depending on the size of the plant)    -   Size of Leaf:        -   Length: About 32 cm to 38 cm (when flowering)        -   Width: About 3.4 to 4.6 cm    -   Overall Shape: Linear-lanceolate    -   Apex Shape: Acute    -   Base Shape: Strap-like around central axis    -   Margin: Entire    -   Texture: Smooth    -   Orientation: Leaf blades arch continuously from base.    -   Color: Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing        conditions        -   Upper and Lower Surfaces:            -   Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137A            -   Immature leaf: Yellow-green, RHS 147B    -   Venation: None

Inflorescence:

-   Borne: Erect stalks-   Shape: Compound-   Size:    -   Length: About 7 cm    -   Diameter: About 13 cm to 17 cm-   Time of Bloom: A fully grown plant can produce an inflorescence    containing about 80 flowers (depending on the size of the plants),    and can bloom the whole year starting about 13 to 14 weeks after    natural induction or through flowering treatment.-   Duration of Bloom: Each flower blooms one (1) day and the total    blooming of the whole inflorescence is about five (5) weeks.-   Petals:    -   Number: 3 per flower    -   Length: About 4.0 cm to 4.5 cm    -   Width: About 0.5 cm    -   Overall Shape: Ligulate    -   Apex Shape: Obtuse    -   Base Shape: Fused    -   Color:        -   Upper and lower surfaces: Yellow, RHS 7A-   Sepals:    -   Number: 3 per flower    -   Length: About 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm    -   Width: About 0.3 cm    -   Overall Shape: Ligulate    -   Apex Shape: Acute    -   Base Shape: Fused    -   Color: Translucent, yellow, RHS 7A

Bracts:

-   Scape Bracts:    -   Quantity: About 12    -   Arrangement: Alternate    -   Size:    -   Length: About 24 cm (lowest) to about 12 cm (scape bracts        positioned just below the primary bracts).    -   Width: About 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm    -   Overall shape: Ovate, lanceolate    -   Apex shape: Acute    -   Base shape: Fused    -   Margin: Entire    -   Texture: Smooth    -   Color:        -   Upper surface: Primarily, green, RHS 137A, with red, RHS 46A        -   Lower surface: Primarily, yellow-green, RHS 147B, with red,            RHS 53B-   Primary Bracts:    -   Quantity: About 12    -   Arrangement: Alternate    -   Size:        -   Length: About 11 cm (lowest) to about 5 cm (primary bracts            become shorter closer to the top of plant)        -   Width: About 3.5 cm to 5.0 cm    -   Overall shape: Ovate, lanceolate    -   Apex shape: Acute    -   Base shape: Fused    -   Margin: Entire    -   Texture: Smooth    -   Color:        -   Upper surface: Red, RHS 46A        -   Lower surface: Red, RHS 53B-   Floral bracts: Disposed within the inflorescence.

Reproductive Organs

-   Androecium:    -   Stamen:        -   Number: 6 per flower        -   Length: About 3.0 cm        -   Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm        -   Color: White-cream (too small to distinguish RHS value)    -   Anther:        -   Length: About 0.5 cm        -   Color: White-cream (too small to distinguish RHS value)    -   Pollen:        -   Amount: Scarce        -   Color: White-cream (too small to distinguish RHS value)-   Gynoecium:    -   Pistil:        -   Number: 1 per flower        -   Length: About 3.0 cm    -   Stigma:        -   Shape: 3-parted        -   Width: About 1.0 mm        -   Color: White-cream (too small to distinguish RHS value)    -   Style:        -   Length: About 3.0 cm        -   Color: White-cream (too small to distinguish RHS value)    -   Ovary:        -   Position: Superior        -   Shape: Conical        -   Length: About 0.5 cm        -   Diameter: About 0.2 cm        -   Color: Yellow-green, RHS 149D

SEEDS/FRUIT: None made.

DISEASE/PEST RESISTANCE: No observations made.

DISEASE/PEST SUSCEPTIBILITY: No observations made.

1. A Guzmania plant named ‘METEOR’, obtained from seed having AmericanType Culture Collection (ATCC) Patent Deposit Designation No.: PTA-9646.2. Guzmania seed having American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) PatentDeposit Designation No.: PTA-9646.
 3. Plants parts obtained from theGuzmania plant of claim
 1. 4. A method of producing Guzmania progenyplant comprising the steps of (a) crossing Guzmania ‘METEOR’ producedfrom seed accorded American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) PatentDeposit Designation No.: PTA-9646 as a female or male parent withanother Guzmania plant, and (b) selecting progeny.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the second Guzmania plant is ‘METEOR’.